M.I.A. Responds to Pro-Terrorism Accusations

The debate over M.I.A.'s use of controversial imagery related to the Sri Lankan separatist group the Tamil Tigers is by no means new. Online music nerd water cooler ILM was abuzz with discussion years ago, and critic Robert Christgau wrote a superlative piece on the subject before Arular even came out-- which you really ought to read before continuing further with this story.

But with Kala standout "Paper Planes" gaining considerable chart traction in recent weeks thanks in part to its placement in a trailer for the film Pineapple Express (it's currently number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100), M.I.A. is gaining the attention of a bigger audience. And with that attention, the controversy pot has been stirred anew thanks to a viral diss video (NSFW!) posted by DeLon, another rapper of Sri Lankan descent. (Via Marc Fort.)

Rhyming over "Paper Planes", DeLon presents his thesis statement pretty much right off the bat: "M.I.A., you represent terrorism in the worst way," he declares. The accompanying video flips between stills and footage of M.I.A., clips of DeLon rapping, and graphic images of violence connected to the Tamil Tigers, often overlaid with text bullet-pointing their crimes.

His argument, in brief: because M.I.A. uses the image of the tiger, writes lyrics that address violence, and has a father known to be part of the Tamil Tigers organization (formally: the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE), she's clearly promoting the aims of that organization through her art and music. As DeLon raps, "You know what the tiger represents: the death of the innocent."

If all that isn't pointed enough, check out DeLon's hijacking of the chorus: "All she wanna do is [sound of four gunshots] straight to my head." His conclusion is even more blunt: M.I.A. "want[s] war."

As with any conflict in a war-torn state, the LTTE's history combating the Sri Lankan government is more complex and contentious than a story on this website can hope to convey. But certain facts speak for themselves: the LTTE is classified as a terrorist organization by numerous world governments, including the United States, the UK, the European Union, and India. Its use of suicide bombers is well documented, and it is considered responsible for the assassinations of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan president Ranasinghe Premadasa.

However, without belittling the heinous acts propagated by the LTTE, DeLon's diss track and video feel much less like a thoughtful critique of a debatable move on M.I.A.'s part, and much more like an empty ploy for publicity.

M.I.A. seems to agree. "I don't support terrorism and never have," she wrote in a statement. "As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee. Frankly, I am not trying to start dialogue with someone who is really just seeking self-promotion."

Lest you question the self-promotion claim, consider the following: The text beneath the video on the website of DeLon's label, Ceylon Records, calls the rapper "'The New Revolution' in Hip-Hop" and heralds him as "An Emerging International Star" who "represents peace and unity in Sri Lanka." A press release on the subject goes on to proclaim DeLon "the most recognizable Sri Lankan hip-hop artist after winning the 'Best Rap Performance' Award from Derana Music Television (equivalent to MTV in the U.S.)."

The same press release notes that DeLon is suing Universal Music Group, parent to M.I.A.'s U.S. label Interscope, for allegedly having his diss video removed from YouTube. A UMG rep was unable to confirm these claims.

And last but not least, let's not overlook the fact that the Los Angeles-based DeLon's flow is, well, kinda wack.